"mai tai" news and stories

Like many urban hipsters of my generation, I have a weakness for artifacts that capture the boozy vibe of the WW II era, you know, cocktail shakers, Thin Man movies and the like. As such, I also have a soft spot for every kind of ephemera related to such nostalgia-soaked Tiki bars as Trader's Vic's.

Whilst trolling through boingboing I learned that Trader Vic Bergeron had more claim to fame than mixing up the first mai tai. Seems he also had a keen sense for timely political cartoons.

The boingboing poster says he spotted this image from a WW II era menu sign while visiting Hawaii. When I saw it, I could barely make it out. Let me assure you, upon magnification the cartoon depicts Mussolini as a jackass, Hitler as a skunk and Hirohito as a rattlesnake. The legend reads: "Due to these three Lousy Dirty Stinkers you're eating off paper instead of my grass mats." - Trader Vic, Oakland.

Promoting any agenda on a menu is uncalled for, even though the Trader was right. God knows it's better than shilling for toys.

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United Airlines is going native. Polynesian to be specific. The airline has teamed up with Trader Vic's, and will start serving island cuisine on flights to Hawaii this month.

Of course that means that mai tais will be on the menu. After all, Trader Vic Bergeron invented the potent fruity cocktail more than 70 years ago. The main course for those flying first class includes macadamia nut-crusted mahi mahi, Trader Vic's barbeque-glazed short ribs and pan-seared chicken with miso-sake sauce.

Sadly, the economy class menu is not quite as luxe and costs $5. It includes such tropical sandwiches as Maui chicken. But there's always those mai tais.

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We posted recently about the new developments over at the Beverly Hilton. The new owners have proposed tearing down parts of the property in order to build new luxury condos. Part of the tear-down strategy includes Trader Vic's, the old-school Hollywood hangout and original creator of the island-inspired Mai Tai.

Recently I was at the Beverly Hilton blogging the Milken Global Economics Conference and had an opportunity to stroll over to Trader Vic's for an after-conference cocktail. I ordered a Mai Tai, which definitely has an old-school Hollywood price of $12.

However much I balked at the ridiculous ticket price, the Mai Tai at Trader Vic's is worth it. There is definitely $12's worth of alcohol in that glass. If for nothing else, it's worth a trip to to the restaurant before it's torn down just to say that you had a Mai Tai where Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra could have sipped the same drink. Or, you can make the same Trader Vic's recipe at home.

Pour 2 oz of 17-year old J. Wray & Nephew Rum over shaved ice. Add juice from one fresh lime, ½ oz Holland DeKuyper Orange Curacao, ¼ oz Trader Vic's Rock Candy Syrup, ½ oz French Garnier Orgeat Syrup, then shake vigorously. Add a sprig of fresh mint. The Trader Vic's plastic toothpick with maraschinlo cherry and pineapple wedge is optional.

You might not know exactly where the Beverly Hilton is in Beverly Hills, but you certainly know about the Beverly Hilton if you watch the Golden Globe Awards, which are hosted there every year. The "new" owner, who purchased the hotel from Merv Griffin two years ago, has planned to tear down some existing structures on the hotel's property to build condos, including the old-school Trader Vic's restaurant. Apparently, the legendary Polynesian restaurant, famous as the godfather of the Mai Tai, is one of the hotel "elements that no longer work."